StudioTorino Moncenisio – a helluva expensive Porsche Cayman

StudioTorino, an Italian design studio who have a slightly haphazard history of designing eye-catching vehicles, have just put the finishing touches to their latest creation. I say haphazard because sometimes they do great things, other times they do stuff like this.

The new Porsche Cayman based Moncenisio sits somewhere in the middle of StudioTorino’s abilities. It’s certainly not ugly, but it’s also not really an improvement on the already handsome Cayman. But even if you’re a big fan of the design, its asking price is hard to swallow. Priced at $200,000 (£121,000 / 145,000 EUR) the Moncenisio is roughly four times more expensive than a standard Cayman. Or to put it another way, for the same amount you could have a Cayman and a brand new 911 Turbo.

The StudioTorino Moncenisio is based on the Porsche Cayman S and the drivetrain has been left untouched, meaning that it’s still powered by the same 325 horsepower 3.4 litre six-cylinder engine it left the Porsche factory with. So where’s the money been spent?

Well, what you’re really paying for here is quality, workmanship, attention to detail and exclusivity. Yes it’s a Porsche Cayman with a fancy Italian name (Moncenisio is the name of an Alpine pass in Italy by the way), a new body kit and a re-upholstered interior. But everything has been done to a superb standard. From the carbon fiber body panels and custom-designed milled aluminium fuel cap, to the hand-enameled hub caps and custom suitcase set it oozes refinement. The fact only 19 examples will be built mean it’s unlikely you’ll see two at once.

Still though. $200,000.